Music Quiz #4

A meter subdivided into three equal parts is known as a. compound b. cut-time c. simple d. common e. duple

A, Compound meter divides the downbeat into three equal parts. It will typically have an 8 as the bottom number of a time signature

Assume a song has a 6/4 time signature. How many eighth notes are in a single measure? a. 12 b. 8 c. 20 d. 24 e. 16

A, Each measure in a song using 6/4 time will have six quarter note downbeats. Since each quarter note is equivalent to two eighth notes, then each measure will have 12 eighth notes.

Which of the following beat patterns BEST represents irregular meter? a. 1-2-3-1-2 b. 1-1-1-1 c. 1-2-3-1-2-3 d. 1-2-1-2 e. 1-2-3-4

A, Irregular meter features measures that have different meters in an irregular pattern. The pattern 1-2-3-1-2 indicates an irregular grouping of beats.

Musicians PRIMARILY use rubato to a. add expressive effect b. introduce an improvisational section c. layer in a new rhythmic pattern d. change the time signature e. transition between melodic keys

A, Tempo indicates the rate of the beat. It can remain consistent or change within the piece. Musicians use rubato to change the tempo and add expressive effect.

Which meter is generally treated interchangeably with quadruple meter? a. duple b. triple c. complex d. irregular e. compound

A, The quadruple meter is often used changeably with the duple, as it is difficult to distinguish them by ear.

Which time signature BEST represents how musicians perform swing music? a. 12/8 b. 4/4 c. 3/4 d. 6/8 e. 2/2

A, Though swing music is written in 4/4 time, musicians perform it in compound time (12/8).

How many sixteenth notes are in a quarter note? a. 2 b. 4 c. 32 d. 8 e. 16

B, A quarter note can be divided into 4 equal parts. These notes are known as sixteenth notes.

Meter broadly describes a(n) a. melodic line b. beat collection c. orchestral interlude d. harmonic interval pattern e. musical speed

B, Meter broadly refers to a collection of beats. It can be described as simple, compound, and irregular. Unmetered music lacks a steady tempo and regular beat.

Which of the following examples BEST describes polymeter? a. a song with a new time signature in each stanza b. a song with two different meters performed simultaneously c. one musician playing duple meter and then passing it off to another musician d. a conductor adding an anacrusis to a melodic line e. a musician changing the meter during an improvisation

B, Polymeter occurs when there are two different meters being performed at the same time. For example, the melody may play three beats per measure while the bass plays four.

What time signature is also known as "alla breve"? a. 2/4 b. 2/2 c. 3/2 d. 6/8 e. 4/4

B, The time signature Alla breve indicates a 2/2 time signature. It is symbolized by a capital C with a vertical slash.

Assume a song has an 8/4 time signature. Which of the following note combinations is equivalent to a single measure? a. eight whole notes b. three dotted half notes c. two half notes and one whole note d. two quarter notes and two whole notes e. sixteen sixteenth notes

C, A song with 8/4 time has eight quarter notes in a single measure. This value is represented through two half notes (four beats) and one whole note (four beats).

Which of the following tempo markings is the SLOWEST? a. presto b. moderato c. lento d. allegro e. andante

C, Lento or grave is a tempo marking with the instructions to play "very slowly". A somber mood best fits a song with this requirement.

Which of the following characteristics BEST applies to rhythm? a. It is sometimes conflicting. b. It is never felt. c. It is always audible. d. It only applies to harmonic lines. e. It never conflicts with the melody.

C, Rhythm refers to an audible set of varying durations. A steady pulse underlying most music constitutes a beat. Rhythm is always audible in music, while the beat is sometimes audible but always felt

Assume a musician sees a subito accelerando marking. What should she do? a. gradually decrease the tempo b. suddenly increase the volume c. suddenly increase the tempo d. suddenly decrease the tempo e. gradually decrease the volume

C, Subito accelerando indicates a change in tempo. The musician should suddenly (subito) increase (accelerando) the tempo.

Which combined value of notes represents a meter in common time? a. six quarter notes b. six eighth notes c. two quarter notes d. two half notes e. two thirty-second notes

D, Common time refers to a 4/4 time signature. The bottom number represent quarters, while the upper number indicates the number of quarters.

Which tempo marking has an approximate bpm of 120? a. moderato b. adagio c. presto d. allegro e. grave

D, The allegro tempo marking has an approximate bpm (beats per minute) of 120. It is a relatively fast tempo.

Which beat pattern BEST represents triple meter? a. weak-STRONG-weak b. weak-weak-STRONG c. STRONG-STRONG-STRONG d. STRONG-weak-weak e. STRONG-STRONG-weak

D, The meter dictates the pattern of beat emphasis in the piece. Triple meter has a three-beat pattern with a STRONG-weak-weak pulsation.

When does an anacrusis occur? a. on the weak beat b. on the last strong beat c. before the first weak beat d. on the first downbeat e. before the downbeat e. before the downbeat

E ,An anacrusis, or a "pickup," occurs when the first word of the song begins on a downbeat.

What effect does adding a flag to a quarter note have? a. quadruples it b. doubles it c. triples it d. quarters it e. halves it

E, 4/4 time is known as "common time" because it is the most prevalent time signature in Western music. Each measure has four downbeats

What effect does adding a flag to a quarter note have? a. quadruples it b. doubles it c. triples it d. quarters it e. halves it

E, A flag turns a quarter note (a black oval with a stem) into an eighth note, effectively halving it.

How many quarter notes are in a whole note? a. 2 b. 8 c. 32 d. 16 e. 4

E, Four quarter notes make up a whole note in standard 4/4 time. Composers write swing music in 4/4 time but performers play the rhythms as though they are in 12/8. [

Assume 4/4 time. Which note combinations are equivalent to each other? a. four sixteenth notes; two whole notes b. one dotted half note; six sixteenth notes c. four eighth notes; one whole note d. one whole note; three eighth notes e. three eighth notes; one dotted quarter note

E, In 4/4 time, three eight notes are equivalent to one dotted quarter note. A dot adds half the value of a quarter note to the value.

Which tempo marking means "at a walking tempo"? a. allegro b. lento c. presto d. adagio e. andante

E, Tempo indicates the rate of the beat. Andante means "at a walking tempo" and indicates approximately 84 bpm.

Assume a song is written in 4/4. Four eighth notes are tied together. What is the total value of this phrase? a. 2 beats b. 1 beat c. 3 beats d. 4 beats e. 5 beats

A, A tie adds the values of its notes together. In 4/4 time, four tied eighth notes are equivalent to 2 beats.

How could a composer increase the value of a note? a. adding a dot b. changing the key signature c. writing in a ritardando d. beaming the note e. increasing the tempo

A, Adding a dot to a note increases its value by half. In 4/4 time, adding a dote to a half note increases its length by one beat.